Bikes + Brews

Full Cycle is Not Your Typical Biker Bar. One of Boulder’s Favorite Bike Shops Adds a Bar and Café.

Article Jessi Hackett | Photography Holly Rae Estrow

Three Reasons to Drink Beer as a Cyclist

(like you need any)

01 They used to drink during the Tour de France

From 1900 – 1960, riders participating in the Tour de France commonly drank alcohol during the race itself. Don’t believe us? During the 17th stage of the 1935 Tour, nearly the entire peloton took a break to booze with locals. Julien Moineau, the rider who didn’t stop for the beer wound up winning the stage by several minutes.

02 Drink it for the health benefits of alcohol

Moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a large variety of health benefits. Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, maintenance of brain health, reduction of symptoms of type 2 diabetes, higher bone density, kidney stones prevention and increased life expectancy just to name a few. Moderation is key. So go ahead and enjoy that cold beer after a great summer ride.

03 Beer is the ultimate post-ride reward

If you need a little encouragement to ride faster, longer and better, beer will do the trick. Nothing will taste better when you’re tired, sweaty and hot. Plus, recent research shows that up to 660 ml of beer does not dehydrate you, so there’s no need to worry even if you’re training for a race.

Cheers!

Walking into the Full Cycle in Boulder on the corner of Pearl and 18th St., it’s suddenly unclear if you’re walking into the neighborhood bike shop or the neighborhood bar. One side of the space is lined with bikes, gear and mechanics wrenching on equipment at a service station. Along the other side and near the front, is a brand-new bar top that sits over 15 people, with 16 taps, and a handful of large, high top tables. This was Russel Chandler’s vision since buying Full Cycle in 2016.

“Our goal is to establish the Full Cycle bar and café as the community hub for group rides, bicycling events, fundraising, coaching, clinics and maintenance classes,” says Chandler.

This spring, the renovation added a bar and café to the bike and service shop. Chandler hopes the newly remodeled digs can be a general hangout for folks wanting to pop in for a beer or glass of wine after a ride or grab a quick coffee and panini mid-day.

“It’s also somewhat of an attempt to combat online shopping,” says Chandler. “We want to make it easy and welcoming for everyone to just come on in.”

Full Cycle started in 1982 with humble beginnings in a garage under a different owner. Today, there is the Pearl Street location and the location on the hill, both owned by Chandler and his business partner, Ed Kuh.

Chandler doesn’t define himself as a “traditional bike guy.” With a degree in Computer Science and an M.A. in Geology, he worked as a GIS software developer and became more active in the cycling community in the early 2000s. Over time, his involvement in the Boulder bike scene has evolved. He helped start the publication “Bike Life Boulder County,” and along with some friends, he started the “Wednesday Morning Velo,” a group riding network that meets weekly, May through September. After the flooding in 2013, he and other cyclists put on fundraisers for mountain towns in the area affected by the floods.

“The success of those fundraisers lead us to form the non-profit called ‘Cyclists for Community,’ which is a grassroots organization that stretches across all bike shops in Boulder, not just Full Cycle,” explains Chandler. While ‘Cyclists for Community’ is not affiliated with Full Cycle, Chandler says it was that background and involvement that got him into the bike industry.

“The Boulder bike community is one of the best in the world,” he says. “We want to make it easy for the whole community, not just certain kinds of cyclists or racers, to make biking an integral part of their lifestyle. So, instead of going someplace else for coffee or a beer after a ride, getting their bike serviced or buying gear, people can have the whole experience here.”